What Kind of Furniture Does a Mulberry Tree Make?

Mulberry wood is used to make small household items such as benches.

The mulberry tree is valued for its leaves, the main food of silkworms, and its berries, a treat for small children on summer afternoons. In its native Japan, its wood has been used for centuries in the production of small furniture pieces. Since its importation into the United Kingdom and the United States, the mulberry's wood has found similar uses after some early experimentation. Not widely known among furniture makers in the United States in the past, mulberry wood is now finding favor in upscale markets.

Species

The timber of the white mulberry, Morus alba, is used most often in Japan. In the United Kingdom and the United States, both it and red mulberry, Morus rubra, are used for furniture. These species hybridize easily, and most trees today are crosses between them. White mulberry was the variety chosen for veneers in the 17th and 18th centuries because of its pale yellow color. Red mulberry wood is often a pale orange when freshly cut. Both tend to darken and turn brown after cutting.

European and American Items

Mulberry can grow large enough to produce boards for furniture making. There are records, pictures and existing examples of drop-leaf tables, chairs and benches. It is a hard and durable wood comparable to elm, but sometimes tends to warp and change its color unexpectedly without the addition of any stains or finishes. This unpredictability may also account for its infrequent use by cabinetmakers. There is some disagreement about its ability to be worked, with some recommending it for its ease of use and others considering it difficult. Its attractive grain is valued for interior finish work, built-in furniture and custom cabinets in finer homes.

Japanese Items

Mulberry was used for furniture in Japan since at least the 19th century. Domestic trees, the source of leaves fed to silkworms, were drastically pruned and never reached an adequate size for timber. However, wild mulberry varieties attained sufficient size and were harvested. Relatively small furniture pieces such as mirror frames, tea chests and clothes racks were produced. In Japan, the wood was especially valued for its grain and for its ability to take a high polish.

Veneers

In late 17th- and early 18th-century Europe, mulberry was considered too brittle and too small a tree for use as a furniture wood. However, its striking grain patterns led to its use as a wood veneer. When stained or dyed with yellow or dark brown pigments, mulberry veneer produced a tortoiseshell effect that was considered fashionable in England. This process was used on other woods such as curly and tiger maple to simulate mulberry's unusual appearance. As a result, antiques experts find it challenging to distinguish the simulations from actual mulberry.

About the Author

Susan Kerr began her writing career as a food columnist in 1987 before moving to business journalism as a reporter and managing editor in the Penn State area. Since then, Kerr has contributed content to military-related magazines, not-for-profit websites and other online media. In addition, she writes a weekly column for her hometown newspaper